Summer Vacation Reading List

There are two main things you should do during the summer vacation in preparation for this module in the autumn:

1. Learn something about the period of Roman history immediately preceding the era of Augustus (from c.60-30 BC). Find out about the civil wars between Pompey and Julius Caesar, why Caesar was assassinated, and how Octavian/Augustus finally in 31 BC emerged as victor after more civil wars. Try to familiarise yourself with some important names and events. There are lots of introductory books you could use for this.
Start to think what it meant to Augustus to be 'son of the deified Julius'.